Fish Oil and Children

by Jody
(Spokane, WA)

What would be a good dosage of fish oil for a 12 yr old boy?

Reply: Hi Jody, Unfortunately, there are currently no scientific studies looking at the optimal dosages of fish oils for children.

A United Kingdom think tank, The International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFA) does have recommended dosages for infants and pregnant mothers. You can see these recommendations at my web page on fish oil dosages.

The ISSFA hasn't determined the optimal dosages of fish oils for children due to the wide range of treatment situations for this broad age group. They believe that more research is needed before reaching any definitive conclusions.

There are some dosage recommendations on the package labels of fish oils, however, you need to remember that these dosage amounts are recommendations only.

The recommend minimum adult dosage of fish oil is 500 mg/day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA to reduce your risk for coronary heart disease. Based on this figure, a child's dosage could be lower due to their smaller body mass or it could be higher if there is an insufficient dietary supply. Again there are many factors to consider before providing a definitive dosage.

There is no question that omega 3 fatty acids are an essential fatty acid for optimal health. This important macro nutrient may play an even more important role in a child's growing body. Even more important is ensuring your fish oils are purified and tested to ensure they contain the optimal amount of EPA and DHA and minimal amounts of mercury, PCB's and other contaminants.